> Why steel plant and why Guwahati?
I would second Dilip da's question. The question is 'why' first. I suspect
the reasons may be not very benign. Before we ask why not, we should be sure
that we are not hoodwinked into believing that development is being bestowed
upon Assam with the promise of huge job creation potential.
Apart from iron ore, what are the other requirements?Is it coal? We have been
told that mushroom growth of such coal fume spewing plants are creating
problems in our neighbouring china's booming cities. Coal is not too far off
from Guwahati.
After the restructuring in the ASEB, despite many bad decisions, the
resultant entities are seeing cash profit. It is reported that TATA is being
handed over these profit centres and some political bigwigs are acting as
touts. At the time of restructuring of ASEB, there was no proposal for TATA
coming in. Similarly, the proposal of the steel plant may not say anything, but
with TATA showing interest in power, another ingredient of steel industry, do
we suspect something?
Further, we do not know the employment generating prospects of the plant. It
is too early in the day to celebrate. In the present computerised environment,
it too is a suspect.(Numaligarh Refinery for example) If employment is the main
issue, then why not the development of the social capital/infrastructure? In
the Assam assembly the Minister has admitted to the irregularities( a soft
word) causing bad road conditions in spite of squandering huge loan funds from
international bodies. Or the reverse development theory is being proposed: set
up heavy industries first; it would mandate development of social
capital/infrastructure?
So, apparently Steel Plant in Guwahati defies common wisdom. To show that the
apparent is not real, some cogent reasons may be supplied.
Nayanjyoti Medhi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Dilip Da,
Any particular reason why a Steel Plant should not be set up in
Guwahati? I suppose it would be harmful for the environment but think
of the jobs it would generate. And it won't even be robbing the state
of its natural resources as Assam does not produce iron ore .
Regards,
Nayanjyoti Medhi
On Nov 15, 2007 9:26 PM, Dilip/Dil Deka wrote:
> Dilip________________________________
>
> Rs 200-cr steel plant to be set up in city
> From Our Spl Correspondent
> NEW DELHI, Nov 14 â Union Minister for Steel, Chemicals and Fertilizer, Ram
> Vilas Paswan today announced a decision to set up a steel processing plant
> at Guwahati at a cost of Rs 200 crore. The Minister made the announcement
> while addressing the Editor's Conference. The decision is part of the Steel
> Ministry's move to set up 10 steel processing plants across the country. The
> Ministry is estimated to spend over Rs 2,000 crore, in this connection.
>
> The Detailed Project Report was reported to be ready and public sector giant
> Steel Authority of India (SAIL) is likely to take initiative to set up the
> processing units.
>
> The processing mill is slated to come up at Assam, Jammu and Kashmir,
> Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, while Madhya Pradesh and Bihar will have two
> units each.
>
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>
--
Nayanjyoti Medhi
Advocate
Chamber:
Satya Bora Lane, Dighalipukhuri East
Guwahati-781001, Assam
Phone:
+91 361 2416960
+91 94350 43007
Fax:
+91 361 2410728
Email:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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